An inmate was injured while being handcuffed in the cell block at Halifax Regional Police in December. - Ryan Taplin

Charges are not warranted against a Halifax jail booking officer after an inmate's shoulder was fractured during handcuffing last year, the province's Serious Incident Response Team says.

The incident occurred when the man was being escorted from a cell at the Halifax police station to have an injured finger checked out by paramedics on Dec. 1.

"While awaiting EHS, the male assaulted the subject officer twice by kicking him," a SIRT news release said. "The subject officer placed the male in handcuffs to prevent a further assault and to bring him under control. While being restrained, the male suffered a slight displaced fracture in the shoulder."

SIRT concluded the booking officer had a duty to bring the man under control and used reasonable force in self-defence.

Witnesses confirmed the amount of force used was justified, SIRT said, so it concluded there are no grounds to charge the officer.